Raiders secure first win of the season

Raiders had slipped to defeats against Old Elthamians and Dorking in their first two matches of the campaign, but tries from Callum Waters, Rob Smith, Alex Nielsen and Dan Sargent saw them secure victory.

Smith provided the hosts with the best possible start as he evaded a challenge before getting his side’s first try on three minutes. Matt McLean then converted to make it 7-0.

The visitors’ notched their first points of the afternoon when Guy Hilton made no mistake with his long-range penalty.

Raiders extended their lead on 13 minutes, though, as Dan Sargent bundled the ball over the try line and McLean bagged his second conversion to make it 14-3.

Canterbury reduced the deficit when Connor Wallace-Smith intercepted a Jack Metter pass, before running from his own half to touch down his side’s first try of the match, just six minutes later.

McLean continued to look impressive with his kicking and he extended Raiders’ lead to 17-8 with a long penalty conversion on 27 minutes.

The visitors were back to within five points of Worthing on 29 minutes, after a well worked try saw Aiden Moss pass to Ollie Best, who touched down.

Raiders responded almost immediately, as Alex Nielsen got on the end of a Finlay Coxon-Smith pass, as Raiders took an 22-13 lead into the interval.

Worthing began the second-half well and increased their advantage on 53 minutes with Callum Waters bagging a try on his debut for the club, while McLean converted to make it 29-13.

Water capped off an impressive first game with another try just nine minutes later as Raiders looked to have the game won.

However, the visitors bagged two late tries through Aiden Moss and Mason Rosvall to put pressure on the hosts, but it was too late as Raiders held on for a 36-25 victory.